Page 80 of The Wedding Deal
“The clock’s at four minutes,” Charlotte said, gesturing toward the red numbers. “I know you’re not really going to let us run out of time. You and I can discuss this stuff later.”
“Nope. You and I are the most important thing to me, even today. And if it takes missing a pick to prove that to you, I swear to God I’ll let that clock hit zero. There’s always next year— That’s a football fan’s motto, right?”
“We’re more than fans,” Charlotte said, a hysterical edge to her voice. “This is our team and our livelihoods, and we can’t afford to let another shitty year pass us by.”
He shrugged, as if he was powerless to do anything about it. “It’s in your hands now.”
“Three minutes!” someone yelled, and everyone began muttering to please just hear him out.
“This is against every single rule!” Charlotte pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Itdefinitelybreaks the terms of the agreement we signed.”
In the background, a sports reporter said, “Still waiting for the Mustangs to call in…”
“Lance, you have to let him make the call,” Charlotte said.
“I will if you agree to at least have dinner with me.” He tried to keep his voice steady even as everything in him began deflating. This was supposed to work—it had to work. “Just give me another chance to prove I’m the guy for you.”
“Come on, Charlie,” Coach Bryant said. “We all can see how miserable you both are without each other.”
“We talk about it in the break room,” the offensive coordinator added.
“Also against the rules,” Charlotte said.
“Love doesn’t give a shit about the rules.” Lance closed the last few feet of space that remained between them, stopping right in front of her. It hit him hard, how in love he was with this stubborn, amazing, beautiful woman. “That’s why I can’t let this go—why I’m willing to risk so much on a second chance. I’m in love with you, Charlotte James. I think I fell a little bit in love with you that day you stormed into my office and rattled off the list of offenses against me, and every day we spent together I fell that much harder. It’s killing me to see you across the office and not be able to tell you how much I care. Or how much I want to kiss you.
“Agree to have dinner with me. I can finish apologizing then.” With every second that ground out in the air the wound in his chest gaped wider, and he forced out one last word, putting every ounce of the rawness he felt into it. “Please.”
“O-okay.” Her voice was shaky, and he wasn’t sure if it was from affection or anger, but all he cared was that he’d finally gotten some emotion. He’d work on making it the right one later.
“Tonight? I can’t wait another night.”
“Yes! Just make the damn call!”
“One more thing,” Lance said, and the entire room groaned. “Nitrofanov, the running back from Penn State, or Morris, the wide receiver from Bama?” She rattled off stats for both guys, the words running into each other as if she were auctioning off their skills.
“I need an answer.”
“My gut says Nitrofanov, even if his stats aren’t quite as strong. He has more heart.”
“Make the call,” he said, glancing at Williams, who frantically dialed and shouted their pick across the line with twelve seconds to spare.
Charlotte dragged a hand through her hair and left her hand resting on the top of her head. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you,” he said, not caring that it was cheesy. He reached out and took her hand, relief flooding his veins when she curled her fingers around his instead of pushing him away.
Did he dare hope? He gave her hand a slight tug, bringing her body close enough to bump against his.
She braced one hand against his chest and slowly tipped her face to his. “Do you really love me? Or were you just saying that so I’d cave?”
He cupped her cheek, savoring the feel of her soft skin and inhaling her intoxicating scent. “I meant every word, I swear. I tried to tell myself it was too soon, but it doesn’t change anything.” He brushed his thumb across her cheekbone. “I’m in love with you.”
Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she let out a long exhale before her eyes reopened and focused on his. “I’m kinda in love with you, too.”
“Kinda?”
She laughed. “All right. 100 percent. I did my best to cling to my denial, but it was no use.”
“Does this mean you forgive me for being the biggest idiot in Texas, where everything’s already huge?”
